I resolved, come what might, that I would take no part in the fray1; but I was carried, in spite of myself, on board the strange vessel2 in the rush that our men made when they drove their opponents back. There was a short, sharp skirmish on the deck of the Russian, and then the crew were driven below, and the hatches put on. I remembered having seen a number of soldiers on board when we first came up with this vessel. There were none now. Their mysterious disappearance3 struck me at first, but I soon forgot it in the thrilling scenes that followed.
In the middle of the vessel’s main-deck there was a cage of wild beasts. How they had got there of course I knew not, but I at once concluded the ship must have been in southern climes, and these animals were being brought home to be presented to some menagerie or zoological garden. There were several fine specimens4 of lions and tigers, and the sight of blood which flowed plentifully5 on the decks had so excited these creatures that they were now filling the air with deafening6 roars, bounding against the sides of their cage, (which I expected every moment to see broken to pieces by their united strength), and glaring at us with the most awful expressions of ferocity I ever beheld7.
Our captain, who looked almost as fierce as the wild brutes8, could not make his voice heard for their roaring. In savage9 fury he rushed at the cage and made a desperate cut with his sword at the lion nearest the bars. The blood flowed from the wound freely, and the savage animal, being unable to wreak10 its vengeance11 on its cowardly assailant, attacked one of its comrades. This, and the blood now flowing in the cage, quite maddened them all. An indiscriminate fight ensued. The wooden partition that separated the tigers from the lions was smashed in, and the strong cage shook as if it were made of card-board.
“Turn a gun in-board,” yelled the captain, who seemed to have actually gone mad with passion.
The order was instantly obeyed.
“Load to the muzzle—grape—canister—chain shot. In with it.”
He assisted in the operation; rammed12 home the extraordinary charge, pointed13 the gun at the cage, and applied14 the match. Instantly the gun leaped backwards15 as if it had been a living thing, broke down the bulwarks16 of the ship, and plunged17 overboard.
The effect of the shot was terrific. The cage was blown to atoms, and the mangled18 remains19 of the wild beasts were strewn about the deck. One animal, however, a magnificent Bengal tiger, had apparently20 escaped unhurt. It sprang at the captain with a hideous21 roar. He pointed a pistol at its open throat!
At that moment the woodcut in my book of travels flashed vividly23 before me. But I had not time to think. The pistol exploded, sending its contents down the creature’s throat. The tiger fell short in its leap; blood poured from its mouth and nose. With another bound it cleared the bulwarks, and fell into the sea.
The calm that succeeded this thrilling incident was like a sudden lull24 in the midst of a furious storm. Even the pirates seemed to be solemnised by what had passed.
“Now to work,” cried the captain, wiping his sword, and laying it, with a brace25 of loaded pistols, on the capstan. “What are you staring at, you fools?—have you lost your senses? Open the after-hatch, and bring them up, one at a time. Get the plank26 ready.”
The first who was led bound before the captain was the steward27 of the ship. He was deadly pale, and trembled very much.
“Now, my man,” said the captain, “answer my questions. The truth mind, else—” he touched the butt28 of a pistol significantly.
“Where did you last sail from?”
To my amazement29, the man gave the name of the port from which we ourselves had sailed. I felt certain that this was a falsehood, and that the poor man’s life would be forfeited30. Judge, then, my surprise when the captain said—
“I know that as well as you. I saw you sneak31 out just the day before we did. But you didn’t escape me, ha! ha! You are too good to live, my man. Stand aside here till I call someone who’s not quite so frightened. Here, hold him, one of you! Bring another!”
I started. My heart almost ceased to beat when the next man was led forward. He was my father’s man-servant, Edwards. In the confusion and horror of that hour I could not reason; but a vague sense of some mysterious impossibility having actually taken place oppressed me in a way that I cannot explain. The ship had sailed the day before ours did! I left Edwards behind me in the race from home! How, then, did I see him before me? Then the cage of wild beasts. How was it possible that a vessel leaving an English port could have such creatures on board? Then, my father’s letter; it seemed more than ever mysterious how that letter could reach me, and through such a channel, and without a word of reference to Edwards.
He did not observe me as he passed. I tried to utter his name; but my tongue was tied. I could not speak. I could not move.
“Where did you last sail from?” began the captain.
“You’ll get nothing out of me,” replied Edwards, stoutly32. “Do your most. Torture me if you like. I defy you to your teeth.”
“Do you, my fine fellow?” said the captain, with a bitter sneer33. “Then I’ll just send you overboard at once. I’ve no time to torture you; and as I shall find plenty of your comrades willing enough to tell me all they know, I’ll not trouble you any further. Ho! run out the plank there!”
I knew what that meant, and a cold shiver passed through my frame as the men obeyed, and blind-folded Edwards, preparatory to making him walk the plank. I could restrain myself no longer. Darting34 up to the captain, I shouted in a voice of indignation—
He looked at me for a moment in surprise; then, snatching a pistol, felled me with it to the deck. I was not rendered quite insensible. I heard the shriek36 of agony uttered by poor Edwards, as he fell off the end of the plank into the sea; then I fainted.
How long I lay, I know not; probably not long, for I was restored to a state of consciousness by being plunged into the sea. I had no doubt that the captain had ordered me to be thrown overboard, just after I fell under his brutal37 blow.
Being a good swimmer, I struck out at once and made for the side of the pirate vessel, where I caught the end of a rope, and soon clambered on board. I was much exhausted38, and sat down on the breech of a carronade to rest and recover my stunned39 and scattered40 faculties41.
The crew of the pirate were so busily engaged with the captured ship that I found myself quite alone on the deck. Not a man remained in the ship. An idea suddenly occurred to me just then. I glanced up at the sails. They were all flapping in the wind except the fore-topsail. That sail had slewed42 round, and was drawing so that the vessel strained the ropes and grappling-irons that held her to the captured ship.
I sprang up burning with eager excitement. I heard the shrieks43 of the ill-fated victims, as one by one they walked the plank, which, fortunately for the success of my design, was thrust out on the other side of the ship. A crowbar enabled me to wrench44 off the grappling-irons. Two cuts of a large axe45 severed46 the cable that had been fastened to the bow, and the vessel’s head fell slowly off. As it did so, all the sails filled with a sudden clap. This was observed: I heard a shout, and saw the pirates spring on the bulwarks of the prize. I flew rather than ran to the stern, where the cable that held the vessel was rigid47 as a bar of iron. One blow cut it, and the rope recoiled48 violently in the faces of the men who laid hold of it. Next moment the pirate ship was heading away before a stiff breeze which was quickly freshening to a gale49. As I sprang to the helm, a shower of musket50 and pistol bullets tore up the deck round me, and I heard the captain’s voice give the order to load the guns.
It was a few minutes before the vis inertiae of the ship was overcome, so that I was within close range when a whole broadside was fired at me. But not a shot struck. They tore up the water all round, and ricochetted over me. Before they could reload I was almost beyond range, for the gale was freshening every moment, and the canvas spread was enough almost to tear the masts out of the ship. The water hissed51 as she flew over the heaving waves, and in a few minutes I felt that I was free.
Oh the feeling of wild delight that filled me when I realised this! I lashed22 the helm amidships, and ran down below to tell Jack52 what I had done. He was asleep. By a powerful effort I restrained myself, and did not disturb him. Then I rushed on deck. My brain seemed on fire. I shouted, laughed, and sang, and wept, until I began to feel a terrible sensation of dread53 lest I should go mad. But this, instead of calming me, caused me to dance and sing and shout the more. A burning thirst came upon me. I ran to the water-cask and drank till I could drink no more. I was refreshed; but soon the fever returned fiercer than ever. I was mad! I knew it; I felt it; but I did not care. I saw that the storm increased; this caused me to shout again with joy at the thought that I was so quickly borne away from the scene of butchery, and from the fiends in human form with whom I had so lately associated.
The gale burst in all its fury upon us. The sails were new and strong; the ship plunged into the waves, a green billow swept in-board and burst in fury on the deck, carrying away boats and loose spars. I yelled with delight, and plunged into the brine that lashed the deck from stem to stern. I heard a noise overhead; but was so confused that I could not understand what it was. As I gazed, there came a terrific blast. The mainsail split from top to bottom. The topsails burst and were blown to ribbons. At the same moment, I received a violent blow on the head.
After that, all was darkness and oblivion.
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1
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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2
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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5
plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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6
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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7
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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8
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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9
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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10
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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12
rammed
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| v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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13
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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14
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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15
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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16
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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17
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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18
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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19
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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20
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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21
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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22
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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23
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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24
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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25
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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26
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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27
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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28
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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29
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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30
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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32
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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34
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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35
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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36
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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37
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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38
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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39
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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40
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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41
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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42
slewed
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| adj.喝醉的v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去式 )( slew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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45
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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46
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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47
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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48
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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49
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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50
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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51
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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52
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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53
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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